Tara J. Young
Ideapreneur, Tara J. Young is the Founder, Chief Advocate, and Senior Trainer of hiphopadvocate.org.
Tara recently served as interim chief of staff in Prince George’s County, and before that post, she worked tirelessly for the former National NAACP President & CEO Ben Jealous’ Maryland Gubernatorial Campaign as his Director of Special Projects. In that position, Tara did community outreach for the state, cultivated relationships with religious and community leaders, and planned and managed major events during the primary and designed and managed close to 100 community meetings for Ben. He is a fighter for the people, and he chose a fighter for the people to be his Lieutenant Gubernatorial Candidate, Susie Turnbull, who has been knocking down doors for women in politics and making a difference for everyone. Tara cherishes those moments gleaning wisdom and knowledge from such trailblazers.
Also, Tara recruited and trained volunteers to do various tasks for the campaign. Before joining the Jealous Gubernatorial Campaign, Tara was a senior lead organizer who works hard to train, motivate, and empower people to take action that will ensure changes in their community and workplace. Before hitting the streets as an organizer, Tara worked briefly for Congressman Sander Levin (D-Mich.)
Tara attended Wayne State University and received a B.A. in public relations. After graduation, she served on the board of the Organization of Black Alumni at Wayne State, where she was voted an outstanding member of the year during her first year of service. The next year, Tara was elected alumni president.
In addition to her degree, she received political and organizing training from both left and right-leaning ideologies. In 2006, Tara completed organizing training at Midwest Academy, one of the leading grassroots programs in the country. A year later, Tara completed a nine-month political fellowship program with the Center for Progressive Leadership.
Tara recently completed the Congressional Black Institute’s Political Leadership “Boot Camp,” which is a highly-acclaimed program.
On the conservative side, Tara received intensive preparation through 10 courses at the Leadership Institute, a conservative political school in Arlington, Virginia.
Tara is currently using her training from the left and right political ideologies, along with her street smarts and personal life experiences to empower people to advocate in a raw, unapologetic, but smart and strategic manner that can help them “do more than scratch the surface.” She is currently a mentor for The FCPS Curriculum Diversity Women Solve Group.